Nghe An has no natural peach forest.

In Que Phong district, since 2016, the district has started supporting the Mong people in Tri Le commune to plant peach trees. At that time, the district supported 10,000 VND for each peach tree planted by the people. From 2017 to 2019, the support level was increased to 20,000 VND for each peach tree. In total, from 2016 to now, the People's Committee of Que Phong district has supported people with a total budget of 240 million VND to plant 13,000 peach trees.

An early blooming peach tree in Pa Khom village, Tri Le commune. Photo: Nhat Lan

According to Mr. Nguyen Ba Hien - Director of the Agricultural Service Center of Que Phong district, the funding to support Mong people in Tri Le commune to plant peach trees comes from the funding to support agricultural, farmer and rural development. The District People's Committee chose peach trees to support, based on the wishes of the people, the suitability of peach trees to the terrain and climate of Tri Le area, as well as the economic potential of this crop.

Mr. Va Giong De's family's peach garden, including peach trees planted with funding from Que Phong District People's Committee. Photo: Nhat Lan

When asked: In Que Phong district, there iswild peachNatural or not? The staff of the Que Phong District Agricultural Service Center said that they had traveled all over the area but did not see any natural wild peach trees; they only saw peach trees planted by ethnic minorities in gardens, in villages, on fields; and peach trees are especially abundant in areas where the Mong people live.

According to Vice Chairman of Tri Le Commune People's Committee, Mr. Xong Ba Cha, peach trees have a very close connection with the Mong people. Wherever the Mong people live, there are peach trees. Tri Le Commune has 5 Mong villages, including: Huoi Moi, Pa Khom, Nam Tot, Huoi Xai, Muong Long, and a part of Minh Chau residential area, all have peach trees. In particular, peach trees are especially abundant in Huoi Moi and Pa Khom villages. Peach trees here come in 2 forms, either grown by the people themselves or with financial support from Que Phong district. "The number of peach trees planted is very large. There are households that own thousands of peach trees such as Mr. Va Giong De, Va Ba Da..." - Vice Chairman of Tri Le Commune People's Committee Xong Ba Cha said.

Vice Chairman of Tri Le Commune People's Committee, Mr. Xong Ba Cha next to an ancient peach tree in Pa Khom village. Photo: Nhat Lan

So, are there natural peach trees in Tri Le? Mr. Xong Ba Cha replied: I was born and raised here but have never seen natural peach trees. If there are peach trees on forest land, it is because people sowed seeds and they grew…”.

Do Tri Le people have any concerns when they know about the ban on cutting down wild peach trees? “In the past few days, people have been confused. But we have explained and encouraged them to rest assured. The peach trees that people grow can be sold or given away. However, we are also hoping for guidance from above, so that peach growers can have a favorable market…” - Vice Chairman of Tri Le Commune People’s Committee Xong Ba Cha shared.

In the Nghe An border area, plum trees are also planted in large numbers next to peach trees. Photo: Nhat Lan

According to some officials of the People's Committee of Que Phong district and Tri Le commune, at this time in previous years, traders from places such as Vinh city, Hanoi, Hai Phong... came to buy peach branches grown by people and brought them from Laos. However, at present (January 20, 2021), we have not seen any. "The reason we say this is because peach buyers are easy to recognize, they often come to Tri Le with a cart (a type of car with a large, long trunk) to transport peaches..." - an official of Tri Le commune discussed.

Peach growers and peach buyers and traders will be facilitated in the process of transporting peaches to different places. Photo: Nhat Lan

According to Mr. Nguyen Tien Lam - Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, in Nghe An province, there are only peach trees grown by people, there are no natural forest peach trees, so at the beginning of this year, the Department only advised the Provincial People's Committee to issue a directive to strengthen forest protection and development. As for peach trees grown by people, the people decide for themselves. "To facilitate people and especially those who purchase and trade peach trees during the transportation process to other places, the Department will also assign the Forest Protection Department to direct the Forest Protection Units to confirm the origin when they have a need..." - Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Tien Lam discussed.